Tony Membrano Jr. is scheduled to walk across the stage at the Central Connecticut State University graduation ceremonies today in New Britain.

He ended his night at Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday by standing on the roof of his car with his arms raised in the air, a winner in the SK Light Modified feature.

Membrano came to a stop on the start-finish line, much like Carl Edwards does when he wins a Sprint Cup race, and began climbing from the car. Membrano didn’t attempt Edwards’ patented back flip, though.

“I physically can do a backflip, but I get so excited — winning here at Stafford is such a great accomplishment to pull off — my legs shake,” Membrano said. “I’m going to end up on my lid like that guy in the Subway commercial. I wanted to do something different. Most drivers just drive around.”

Membrano was full of emotion afterward.

“It’s overwhelming, and it does get the better of you sometimes,” he said. “I don’t break out in tears, but I can scream, laugh and giggle all night.”

Membrano, of Plantsville, majored in mechanical engineering technology at CCSU.

SK Modifieds

Ryan Preece was 2-for-2 in SK Modified features heading into Friday, and after dominating his heat race he appeared ready to make it 3-for-3.

Preece would have to win the feature from the middle of the field, though, and that proved to be the issue.

A massive pile-up on lap 3 collected most of the field, including Preece. When the green-flag flew on the restart, Preece still was on pit road.

Rowan Pennink, a veteran on the Whelen Modified Tour who decided to run his first full season in the SK Modified division this season, led from start to finish to score his first victory at the track. It wasn’t an easy win, though.

Pennink and Sean Foster ran nose-to-tail for nearly 25 laps and it appeared over after Foster went too high on lap 35 in Turns 3 and 4 and watched Pennink scoot away, but the caution flew one lap later and Foster was brought back to the outside of Pennink. On the restart, they stayed side-by-side for the next two laps, but Pennink held the inside line, cleared Foster and held off the young driver for the victory.

Late Models

Tom Fearn did something that’s nearly impossible to do at Stafford Motor Speedway: He held off Woody Pitkat.

Pitkat waited in Fearn’s shadow for most of the 30-lap feature Friday, but Fearn never slipped up and raced to the victory to become the third different winner in three races this season.

Pitkat, who is winless after three races, finished second and Adam Gray, was third. Pitkat was pleased with second after a tough start to the year.

Page 2 of 2 - “It was taking me a while to run him down” Pitkat said. “I think if we had another five laps it would have been more interesting, but we keep finishing like we are, eventually we will win.”

Dare Stocks

Jeremy Lavoie won his first career race as a rookie in 2012, but he’s come back much stronger for his sophomore campaign. Lavoie ran into trouble in the first race of the season and finished 14th, but came back to score his second career victory last week.

On Friday, he made it back-to-back wins for the first time after taking the lead on lap 12 and holding on for his third career win.

“Starting 10th, I knew I was going to have my hands full, but I knew I had a good car under my feet,” Lavoie said in Victory Lane. “We worked all winter to my find it and it seems like we hit.”

Lavoie survived five cautions in the 20-lap feature and held off the same two guys he had in his mirror last week. Johnny Walker came home second and Kris Fluckiger was third. The race ended just in time for Walker, who said he damaged his radiator with one lap remaining.

Limited Late Models

David Arute patiently picked his way through the field and tracked down Don Wood with six laps remaining. Arute — the son of track owners Mark and Lisa Arute — dove underneath the veteran driver in Turn 3 and drove to his second career win. His first came last August.

“We had a long winter and I’m happy to reward the team with this win,” David Arute said.